Temecula Valley Unified board approves layoff notices

The governing board of the Temecula Valley Unified School District on Tuesday approved issuing layoff notices to nearly 40 teachers and eliminating 16 classified positions during an agenda filled with budgetary preparations for the 2013-14 school year and beyond.

After six teachers spoke against layoff notices connected to potential changes to Temecula Valley Charter School's charter, the board voted 3-0 to approve three motions tied to the decisions, district spokeswoman Melanie Norton said.

Trustees Vincent O'Neal and Allen Pulsipher were absent.

The layoff notices will be issued for 38.6 full-time equivalent teaching positions -- the vast majority from Temecula Valley Charter -- because the Winchester-based school is expected to request charter modifications that require all of the teachers and staff members to be removed from the district's payroll.

Temecula Valley Educators Association President Chris Lindberg told The Californian on Monday that she expected that the majority of the teachers issued layoff notices would return to the district. Others could remain at Temecula Valley Charter, although likely at considerably lower salaries because they would not be part of the local union.

In addition to eliminating 16 classified positions, the board also voted 3-0 to approve a written notice that an administrator with the district may be released at the end of the school year due to the potential need for a reduction in staff, Norton said.

The district also proposed a number of negotiation items for discussion with its unions for 2013-16 contracts.

Among its proposals for its teachers union, the district plans to discuss hours, class size, assignments, transfers and filling of vacancies, leave, evaluation procedures and shared teaching.

The district will discuss compensation and benefits, hours, transfers, leave provisions, evaluation and discipline with its classified employees union.